Everyone experiences ups and downs; it’s just part of life that there will be hardships and seasons that are more challenging than others. It’s how you handle difficult situations that makes all the difference.
Emotional wellness, also called emotional health or emotional well-being, is your ability to manage your emotions and experiences you encounter in life. It also means being kind to yourself so you can stay afloat in the face of adversity.
Keep reading to learn more about emotional wellness and self-care strategies you can implement that will help keep your emotional wellness in check.
How Emotional Wellness Can Impact Your Life
Our emotions and how we manage them impact all areas of our lives, including our relationships, education, careers and both our physical and mental health. Some of the ways poor emotional wellness can impact our whole health include:
- Decreased immunity
- High blood pressure
- Increased illness
- Problems at work
- Relationship issues
- Trouble concentrating
In contrast, being emotionally well can lead to reduced stress and illness, increased immunity, enhanced productivity and more fulfilling relationships.
Self-Care Tips to Increase Emotional Wellness
Anytime you choose to do something that nurtures your well-being, you’re practicing self-care. That can mean taking care of your mental, physical, emotional or spiritual health. It doesn’t matter how big or small the activity may be. And it also doesn’t matter if anyone else would find it to be nurturing as well. All that matters is that it nourishes you. At the core, self-care is about valuing and respecting yourself and your unique needs.
Give these suggestions a try. If they make your day feel a little better, you’re on the right path toward emotional wellness and a clearer picture of what whole health looks like for you.
Get Enough Sleep
It’s hard to feel good when you’re tired. Sometimes you may feel like you need to stay up late to get things done, or even because you think that giving yourself that extra hour of TV time qualifies as self-care. But is it really the kindest thing you can do for yourself? Sleep deprivation has serious effects on your mood, energy and ability to think clearly. Getting a full seven to eight hours of sleep a night is a simple way to drastically improve how you feel all day long.
Eat Nutritiously and Exercise
This one’s tricky because it can sound more like a chore than a pleasure. The key is to not deprive yourself of food or be extreme with exercise, but to truly care for and nourish your body. As far as food goes, enjoy it. But choose foods that make you feel good, not just the ones that are tempting treats with immediate pleasure.
For exercise, find something you enjoy. Regular activity has been shown to raise energy levels, improve mood, boost self-confidence and so much more to improve your whole health.
Prioritize You
With all the responsibilities that come with being an adult — especially if you’re a parent — it can be hard to find time for yourself. There’s a deadline at work. The kids need help with homework. The dog needs to go to the vet. The car needs an oil change. It seems like every time you turn around, someone else needs you. But it’s important to remember that you’re human, and humans require maintenance. If you don’t take care of your body, it will deteriorate. If you don’t refill your reserve of patience, you won’t have patience to give.
Connect with Others
Spending time with loved ones is vital to your well-being. Social connection can reduce anxiety and depression, boost the function of your immune system and even help you live longer. In fact, a lack of connection can negatively impact your health more than smoking, obesity or high blood pressure. Connecting online is better than nothing, but it’s even better to talk on the phone or meet up with someone that you care about in person.
Do Something You Enjoy Every Day
What brings you joy? Is it reading a few pages of a book? Sipping a hot cup of tea? Going dancing with friends? Strumming your guitar? Cleaning out your closet? It doesn’t have to make sense to anybody else. If it makes you feel good, it qualifies. It can be something as simple as taking a hot shower or as complex as a much-needed vacation. Just choose something that makes you happy — every day.
We’ll Help You Stay Emotionally Connected
Emotional wellness is about being connected to and able to deal with your own emotions, but so much of our emotional lives are lived with others. You don’t have to do this alone. If you need help plugging back into your emotions, our compassionate behavioral health specialists are here to help.
Visit us here to learn more or schedule an appointment. You deserve to feel whole — in body, mind and spirit.
